Not enough strong pressure on Russia, Ukraine’s Zelenskyy says
Responding to another round of questions, Zelenskyy stresses once again that Ukraine, unlike Russia, agreed to president Trump’s request for an unconditional ceasefire.
He says that Ukraine has done as much as possible to progress in talks with the US by signing a memorandum on minerals, after removing provisions that would contradict its constitution.
He says Ukraine does not “see strong pressure on Russia now” nor new sanctions against Moscow, despite its unwillingness to progress the talks.
“We believe that with greater pressure on the Russian Federation, we will be able to bring our sides closer,” he says.
He adds that any further compromises can be discussed once the ceasefire is agreed.
But he notes that after over three years of fighting a war of aggression with thousands killed, the willingness to sit down for talks with the aggressor is already a compromise.
The Ukrainian president says that agreeing to the ceasefire would demonstrate “political goodwill” from all sides.
He repeats that Ukraine’s focus is on ending the war, and stresses the importance of returning the Ukrainian children abducted by Russia back home.
Zelenskyy also specifically calls on the US to play a substantial role in guaranteeing peace as he says that the outcome of London talks should be now on president Trump’s desk for consideration.
Key events
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Zelenskyy’s press conference with SA’s Ramaphosa – snap analysis
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‘Clear message from Kremlin: Russia has no real interest in peace,’ Danish PM says
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Not enough strong pressure on Russia, Ukraine’s Zelenskyy says
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Russia seeks to put pressure, isolate Ukraine, Zelenskyy warns, as he thanks for ‘not easy, but constructive’ London talks
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It is on Russia to issue orders to stop attacks, Zelenskyy says
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South Africa ‘deeply concerned’ about continuing Ukraine conflict, calls for ceasefire, Ramaphosa says
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Russia’s attacks ‘make a mockery’ of its claims about peace, EU’s Kallas says
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Swedish jets intercept Russian plane near Poland
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Britain does not recognise Russian claims to illegally occupied territory of Ukraine, minister says
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Russia claims strikes targeted Ukrainian defence industry
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Zelenskyy meets South Africa’s Ramaphosa in Pretoria
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Russian strikes on Ukraine overnight – map
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Russia blames Ukraine’s Zelenskyy for wrecking peace diplomacy
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Zelenskyy cuts visit to South Africa short after overnight attacks
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215 Russian strikes on Ukraine over night, Ukrainian air force says
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‘Particularly horrible’ attack on Kyiv leaves nine dead, over 70 injured, foreign minister says
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People shelter in the metro as Russian missiles hit Ukraine’s capital – video
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‘Major rescue operation’ after Russian attack, minister says
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Morning opening: Is this your idea of peace?
Zelenskyy’s press conference with SA’s Ramaphosa – snap analysis
Rachel Savage
The atmosphere at Zelenskyy’s joint press conference with President Cyril Ramaphosa was mostly serious, perhaps paying heed to the loss of life in Ukraine overnight.
It warmed up towards the end of the question and answer session, when Zelenskyy switched from Ukrainian to English to joke with Ramaphosa about whether he had managed to answer the multiple questions posed by journalists.
Zelenskyy refused to be drawn on what Ukraine was willing to compromise on, returning again and again to the need for more pressure on Russia to agree to a comprehensive, unconditional ceasefire.
Ramaphosa was more cautious in his language, calling on “both parties” to agree to a ceasefire and saying the war had negatively affected both Russia and Ukraine. However, he later said that Ukraine should be commended for agreeing to an unconditional ceasefire, saying it was “a positive signal that should be embraced.”
Jakub Krupa
Let’s quickly go to our Southern Africa correspondent Rachel Savage for her take on this press conference.
‘Clear message from Kremlin: Russia has no real interest in peace,’ Danish PM says
In the last half hour, Danish prime minister Mette Frederiksen also reacted to the overnight strikes on Kyiv, saying in her social media that the strikes sent “a clear message from Kremlin: Russia has no real interest in peace.”
Here is what she said:
“Kyiv was brutally attacked by Russia again last night.
A clear message from the Kremlin: Russia has no real interest in peace.
Peace cannot be negotiated under fire. Denmark stands with Ukraine against this brutality.”
Closing the press conference, South Africa’s Ramaphosa highlights the Ukrainian willingness to talk about an unconditional ceasefire, which he says could be “a key ingredient in a negotiation process.”
He gets asked about the US threat to withdraw from the peace process, and says that “it is for the US to decide on the role they want to play,” but adds “we believe the US has an important role to play, as does Europe,” and others, like China and Brazil.
And that concludes their press conference, with Zelenskyy confirming earlier that he will cut the visit short to return to Ukraine, with foreign ministry officials picking up the rest of the programme.
Not enough strong pressure on Russia, Ukraine’s Zelenskyy says
Responding to another round of questions, Zelenskyy stresses once again that Ukraine, unlike Russia, agreed to president Trump’s request for an unconditional ceasefire.
He says that Ukraine has done as much as possible to progress in talks with the US by signing a memorandum on minerals, after removing provisions that would contradict its constitution.
He says Ukraine does not “see strong pressure on Russia now” nor new sanctions against Moscow, despite its unwillingness to progress the talks.
“We believe that with greater pressure on the Russian Federation, we will be able to bring our sides closer,” he says.
He adds that any further compromises can be discussed once the ceasefire is agreed.
But he notes that after over three years of fighting a war of aggression with thousands killed, the willingness to sit down for talks with the aggressor is already a compromise.
The Ukrainian president says that agreeing to the ceasefire would demonstrate “political goodwill” from all sides.
He repeats that Ukraine’s focus is on ending the war, and stresses the importance of returning the Ukrainian children abducted by Russia back home.
Zelenskyy also specifically calls on the US to play a substantial role in guaranteeing peace as he says that the outcome of London talks should be now on president Trump’s desk for consideration.
In his responses, South Africa’s Ramaphosa sticks to his earlier lines, calling for a diplomatic and negotiated solution to the Russian invasion of Ukraine.
He also says that “the world as a whole is ready to act as guarantors” of peace, adding that both South Africa and other African leaders “would be willing to play that positive role as well.”
“All wars do come to an end, and it depends at what stage they come to an end, and we say it should be sooner rather than later, because the continuation of this war continues to wreak havoc, destruction of lives, infrastructure, economies of both countries,” he says.
Russia seeks to put pressure, isolate Ukraine, Zelenskyy warns, as he thanks for ‘not easy, but constructive’ London talks
Responding to questions, Zelenskyy also says that while he wouldn’t associate the attack with his visit to South Africa, he believes that “Putin does not like Ukraine’s presence” in Africa, as it wants it to block from having normal relations with other states.
He says Russia seeks to put pressure on Ukraine and the US in the peace process, as he describes yesterday’s talks in London as “not easy, but constructive.”
“[The meeting] ended not with disagreements, but with a will to work further,” he says, adding that Russia must have been hoping for “a big scandal,” as he dismisses some later comments – presumably Trump’s burst overnight – as “emotions.”
He says Russia hopes to isolate Ukraine to make it an easier target, but notes that “even in the first days of the war, when we were almost alone, we were able to hold up,” and Ukraine is now “much stronger.”
He returns to his main message:
“If Russia declares that it is ready for a ceasefire, they need to stop the strikes on Ukraine.”
It is on Russia to issue orders to stop attacks, Zelenskyy says
In his opening comments, Zelenskyy talks about the shared values between the two countries, and their “desire for freedom, for independence, for equality and respect.”
Addressing the overnight strikes, he talks about some of the individual stories of those killed in the attack, and adds that rescue operations are still on-going.
He says he agrees with Ramaphosa on the need for a ceasefire, but stresses that its effectiveness depends on Russia, as it has not made the necessary orders to its army.
Noting a brief pause over Easter, he says that “unfortunately, after Easter, Russia resumed assaults on the front and strikes on our cities,” and he stressed the need to put more pressure on Russia to end the war through all diplomatic avenues, including the G20 format that is chaired by South Africa.
He also talks about the need to rescue Ukrainian children abducted by Russia during the war.
South Africa ‘deeply concerned’ about continuing Ukraine conflict, calls for ceasefire, Ramaphosa says
Ukraine’s Volodymyr Zelenskyy and South Africa’s Cyril Ramaphosa are now giving a briefing after their talks in Pretoria, South Africa.
Opening, Ramaphosa notes close relations between the two countries and the support South Africa received from Ukraine “during our liberation struggle.”
Crucially, he says:
South Africa is deeply concerned about the continuing conflict in Ukraine, the continuing loss of civilian lives, the damage to critical infrastructure and deteriorating humanitarian situation.
South Africa believes that the only path to peace is through diplomacy, inclusive dialogue, and a commitment to the principles of the United Nations Charter.
This includes the principle that all member states should settle their international disputes by peaceful means, from the experience of our own journey from the nightmare of apartheid to democracy, we value the importance of engaging all parties to conflicts to achieve peace and a just, enduring solution to wars and conflicts.
He says that he spoke with Trump this morning and followed up on this in his talks with Zelenskyy today, adding:
We both agreed that the war should be brought to an end as soon as possible to prevent further death and destruction.
He then added that he also spoke with Russian president Vladimir Putin “earlier this week, where we both committed to work together towards a peaceful resolution of the Russia Ukraine conflict.”
“We call upon all parties, both Russia and Ukraine, to ensure that there is a comprehensive ceasefire, an unconditional ceasefire, so that discussions and negotiations can start between the two countries,” he adds.
“President Zelensky, as he himself will say, told me that, as Ukraine, they are ready to engage in discussions and negotiations with Russia, and they are also ready to have a comprehensive, unconditional ceasefire. This, we believe is the best way towards ending the war between Russia and Ukraine,” he stressed.
Russia’s attacks ‘make a mockery’ of its claims about peace, EU’s Kallas says
EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas said the Russian attacks on Ukraine overnight made a mockery of its claims of seeking peace.
In a post on social media, she said:
“While claiming to seek peace, Russia launched a deadly airstrike on Kyiv.
This isn’t a pursuit of peace, it’s a mockery of it.
The real obstacle is not Ukraine but Russia, whose war aims have not changed.”
Swedish jets intercept Russian plane near Poland
Two Swedish fighter jets under Nato command were scrambled over the Baltic Sea to escort away a Russian reconnaissance plane that was approaching Polish airspace, Sweden’s armed forces said.
“The plane was close to Polish airspace so we went up to signal our presence, make a visual identification and escort it out of the area,” Swedish air force spokesperson Therese Akerstedt told AFP.
The Swedish jets, based in Malbork, Poland under Nato command, identified the aircraft as a Russian IL-20 Coot reconnaissance plane.
Britain does not recognise Russian claims to illegally occupied territory of Ukraine, minister says
Meanwhile, a British deputy foreign minister said that the UK does not recognise Russian sovereignty over any territory illegally seized from Ukraine.
PA reported that Stephen Doughty, responding to an urgent question on talks in London to broker peace, told the House of Commons:
“The UK’s position regarding Ukrainian sovereignty is well known and our position has not changed, and we do not recognise Russian sovereignty over any territory illegally seized from Ukraine, including Crimea.
And when, how and what terms this war comes to an end can only be decided by negotiations, with Ukraine at the heart.”
Doughty also condemned Russia’s “most brutal” attack overnight, as he said:
“While Ukraine has been in peace talks, Russia has continued these severe attacks, including last night, and that is a stark reminder of the continued bloodshed and aggression perpetrated by Putin.”
President Zelensky has shown his commitment to peace, President Putin must now agree to a full and immediate ceasefire without conditions as Ukraine has done. We will not stop in our efforts to work with all the parties to that end.”
Russia claims strikes targeted Ukrainian defence industry
Meanwhile, Russia claimed it had targeted Ukraine’s defence industry, including plants that produced “rocket fuel and gunpowder” in overnight strikes, AFP reported.
“Overnight, the Russian armed forces carried out a massive strike with long-range air, land and sea-based weapons, and drones, on Ukraine’s aviation, aerospace, machine-building and armoured vehicle industries,” the defence ministry said, adding: “The objectives of the strike have been achieved”.
Zelenskyy meets South Africa’s Ramaphosa in Pretoria
Rachel Savage
The rain had been hammering down but cleared up in time for the arrival of Zelenskyy, who got out of his car to shake Cyril Ramaphosa’s hand flanked by his body guards and gun-toting South African soldiers.
Russian strikes on Ukraine overnight – map
Here is a map of the Russian attacks on Ukraine last night, thanks to our brilliant graphics department.
In a social media update posted just before meeting with Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskyy, South African president Cyril Ramaphosa said he spoke with US president Donald Trump “to discuss the peace process in Ukraine.”
“We both agreed that the war should be brought to an end as soon as possible to stop further unnecessary deaths,” he said.
He added that they leaders “both agreed to meet soon to address various matters regarding US-South Africa relations,” and “spoke about the need to foster good relations between our two countries.”
Russia blames Ukraine’s Zelenskyy for wrecking peace diplomacy
Meanwhile, Russia – fresh after launching deadly attacks on Kyiv and other Ukrainian cities overnight – accused Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskyy of wrecking diplomacy aimed at reaching a peace deal after he refused to agree to recognise Russia’s illegal annexation of Crimea, Reuters reported.
Russian foreign ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova told reporters that it was becoming clearer by the minute that Zelenskyy lacked the capacity to negotiate a deal to end the war.
Zakharova said decisions by European countries to continue supplying weapons to Kyiv were encouraging Zelenskyy to pursue the war, regardless of casualties, Reuters reported.
Their attitude showed some European countries were frightened by the prospect of a Russian victory, Russia’s Zakharova claimed.